A visit to the Mongolian Gobi is definitely an experience everyone should have at least once in their lifetime. It is a journey well worth the effort and you will have fond memories to last you forever. Imagine yourself on top a camel, trekking through the Gobi desert. There is nothing around you and all you can hear are the footsteps of the camel on the soft sand. The sky is vast and clear blue in the day and filled with millions of bright stars at night. In the Central Mongolian region you will have opportunities to relax in the surrounding natural beauty, walk around the beautiful National Parks and see the world’s last remaining wild horses or meet and experience one of the last nomadic cultures on earth, where a traditional way of life endures as it did a millennium ago. The tour takes 9 days to cover the Mongolian most popular travel destinations including biggest waterfall Orkhon waterfall, Chinggis Khaan’s 13 th century ancient capital Karakorum ruins, Erdene Zuu monastery complex, ancient sea bed Gobi Desert and many more…It is a very peaceful journey and definitely lifetime experience.
Vulture valley
Khongor sand dunes
Bayanzag-Flaming cliffs
Orkhon waterfall
Karakorum-Erdene Zuu monastery
Hustai National Park
Terelj National Park
Chinggis Khaan Monument Complex
real Mongolian barbecue Khorkhog
In the morning, our guide and driver will pick you up from your accommodation and start our tour directly driving towards to Tsagaan Suvarga or known as White Stupa. Before we leave the city we will pass some shops and then drive around 450 km through the Middle Gobi mostly by paved road. The rocky formations of Tsagaan Suvarga are located on the Southern border of the province of Middle Gobi. These rocky formations eroded by the wind, look like a ruined city if you observe them from a certain distance and they are about 60 meters high and 400 meters long. This is good place to reach the South Gobi. Arrive at the camp and after some relaxation we will hike around the Tsagaan Suvarga. Overnight in Ger camp.
Today's destination is Vulture Valley well known as Yolyn Am that located in Gobi Gurvan Saikhan National Park. Yolyn Am (The Vulture Valley) is a deep and narrow gorge in the Gurvan Saikhan Mountains. Gobi Gurvan Saikhan Mountains (Three Beauties of Gobi) are three rocky Mountains, the highest of which is 2815 meters above the sea level. The gorge was created from continuous water erosion, and it is filled with ice and snow in winter which melts around end of August. It is wide at entrance and narrows progressively into a gorge that contains ice and an interesting as well as beautiful place to visit during summer to feel ice below your feet. Enjoy hiking and photographing the charming landscape and wildlife. Visit local Gobi museum. Overnight in Ger camp.
Continue tour to the Gobi Desert. Gobi desert gives you an exotic view of the desert with boundless view of horizons, rare species of mammals and plants. Known as Singing dunes, the Khongor sand dune has an extraordinary length of 180 kilometers and 15 – 20 meters wide and lies on the Northern part of the Mountains of Sevrei and Zuulen. There is an Oasis near Khongor sand dune at the Northern edge of the sand dune. Name of the Singing sand dunes comes from the sound produced by the masses of moving sand can be heard from afar, and when it occurs, it is said that it can be mistaken for the sound of an aero plane. Arrive at the camp and after some relaxation we will visit to Khongor sand dunes. Free hiking around the sand dunes and if you wish you can climb up to the highest point of the dunes which will reach about 200 meters. Visit to the local camel herding nomad family and introduced the nomadic life in the Gobi, and we will have a camel riding through the sand dunes. Camel riding is one of the main fun activities you can do while you are in the Gobi. Our camel man will take to the sand dunes and the two humped camels are very comfortable to ride, as the walk slowly and gently you will be supported by the humps, sitting comfortably between them. Back to the camp and after dinner it will be free time. Overnight in Ger camp.
After breakfast time, we will continue our way driving to Bayanzag. On the way, we will pass a small Gobi stone market and you can buy some precious stones even a small sized petrified tree. Known as Flaming cliffs, where American explorer Roy Chapman Andrews found cemetery of dinosaurs and the first dinosaur eggs ever discovered in the world. We will have some hiking through the cliffs and see the Gobi tree grove named “Bayanzag”. Bayanzag, literally means “rich in saxual trees”. This tree only grows in central Asian Gobi. See the short documentary about 1920-s American excavation. After lunch, we will drive to Ongi Temple ruins. Ongi monastery was one of the Mongolian biggest 7 monasteries. There are 2 temple ruins which were built up in 1780s. During repression in 1930’s these two temples destroyed and many lamas were executed and imprisoned. Arrive at the camp, and after seeing sightseeing of Ongiin khiid, in the evening enjoy the Mongolian traditional costume fashion show. Overnight in Ger camp.
Drive to Orkhon waterfall and over 25 m high Orkhon Waterfall is the biggest waterfall in Mongolia and one of the most attractive destinations in Orkhon river valley, UNISCO World heritage site. Orkhon River valley is known as the cradle of the Mongolian civilization holding many of Mongolia’s ancient monuments lie within its basin. The surrounding areas of the waterfall were formed by volcanic activities dated back approximately 20,000 years (possibly Quaternary period). Flows of Orkhon River created a 130 km long canyon through the lava plateau. The area is ideal for fishing, horse riding, cycling and photography. Scenic and untouched natural distinct spot allow good opportunities for hiking and horseback riding and we will do that. We will do some horse riding through the breathtakingly beautiful areas and our horse riding activity suitable from beginners to advanced riders. Overnight in Ger camp.
After breakfast, drive to Karakorum, the symbolic ruins of the 13th century capital of the Mongol Empire. In the history, the city of Karakorum was founded in 1220 in Orkhon River Valley by order of Chinggis Khaan and after collapsing of Yuan dynasty of Khubilai Khaan Min state’s invaders sacked the city and massacred its inhabitants in 1388 and ruined it. After 200 years, Erdene Zuu, the oldest monastery, with 108 stupas, built in 1586 and by various construction materials were taken from the ruins of Karakorum. We will visit to Karakorum museum and see the Great Mongol state period, Stone Age, Bronze Age, Ancient state period halls. Overnight in Ger camp.
Travel to Hustai National Park, site of re-introduction scheme of Przewalski’s horse, by Mongolian’s called Tahki. It became extinct in the wild in the 1960’s, and since 1992 has been successfully re - introduced to Hustai and other parts of Mongolia, from zoos around the world. Arrive at the Hustai National Park, visit Takhi's small museum and continue our way to Nomad family, which they live just outside of National Park. Arrive at nomad family, meet the family members, and you will be welcomed by traditional way of greeting. Then rest of the day you will spend to learn and to experience nomad people’s daily lifestyle and duties, including milking cows and sheeps, bringing the herds from pasture, producing dairy products, helping & cooking Mongolian respected dish Khorkhog with help of hostess etc. In the evening, drive back to National park to see Wild Horses-Takhi while they coming down from mountain to drink water. Overnight in Nomad family Ger.
Drive to Terelj National Park for 180 km. Terelj is a spectacular valley with high rock formations, pine – covered mountains and grasslands carpeted with wildflowers and edelweiss. It is a landscape of transition from Siberian taiga forest to grass steppe. In spring and summer the lush meadows are carpeted with wildflowers, and the mountain pine forests and broad streams make this, one of the most beautiful areas in Mongolia. We will see Turtle Rock and visit Ariyabal meditation temple, which is surrounded by scenic mountains with interesting rock formations and sits at top of the mountain. Overnight in Ger camp.
Travel to Chinggis Khaan Monument. This statue, showing Chinggis Khaan (1162-1227) with a golden whip in his right hand gazing into the distance, has been erected at the Tsonjin Boldog site connected to many historic events in the territory of Erdene soum in Tov aimag, 54 km from Ulaanbaatar. The haughty and yet honorable statue is surrounded by 36 columns representing 36 Mongolian Khaans. The entire edifice is covered in 250 tons of steel. After visiting to 13 th Century Museum and Bronze age museum, visitors will ascend to the exhibition hall using an elevator at the back of the horse and will walk to the horse's head passing through its chest and the back of its neck from where they will have an excellent panoramic view over the complex area and the scenery beyond. Lunch at site restaurant and drive back to Ulaanbaatar. Transfer to your accommodation, end of the tour.
7 Nights in Tourist Ger camps (twin share)
1 Nights in Nomad family guest Ger
4 WD Vehicle in the countryside
Airport transfers for arrival / departure
Meals as listed (B-Breakfast, L-Lunch, D-Dinner)
Sightseeing and Entrance fees according to the itinerary
English speaking guide
Daily water supply
Camel and Horse riding fees
Visa support invitation letter where applicable
Accommodations in Ulaanbaatar
International airfare / train tickets+ tax
Travel insurance / Visa fees
Items for personal use
Alcoholic drinks
Tips for staffs
Single supplements
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